"Hey You're a Disney Expert. . . "

[Mikie]

Surely all you DISers have been asked about your a Disney expertise & can maybe relate. I LOVE Disney and planning Disney and browsing disney-related sites. This results in me having to rein myself in so as not to bore non-fans to tears and gives the false impression I'm an "expert" (I guess compared to the general public I may be, but a real novice compared to other DISers)

An acquaintance has asked me to give her some info for her first trip. I get the impression that she's not inclined to be a big planner and I think if I start talking, I'll run on and freak her out!

Knowing that it's important gently guide her to plan at least somewhat, what would you tell a first timer? Pick a handful of key points and tell her to call me with questions? Point her to a particular site or book to start with? I'm so knee deep in my upcoming trip, I can't seem to see the forest for the trees and put myself in a newbies shoes!

 

[Robo]

Many of us "Disney Experts" would not tell a "non-planner" anything.

What's the point?

It would only annoy the newbie and frustrate us.

Give the newbie this website address with the suggestion to read some of the threads... and see what transpires.

 

[MikesTooLz]

Tell them, they can get a free DVD from disney about planning their trip...

 

[tndisneyfan]

I've tried to rein myself in and not give advice unless someone specifically asks for it. Even then I try to only give what they ask for. A few years back a friend asked for some advice for her sister who was planning a trip. I sent her back a two page email. Her response was, Uh, thanks Lori. I realized then it was too way too much. I gave her about three times more than she asked for.

I will say it's hard some times to keep shut and not try to help people plan their trip. A young man at work was talking about going in December of this year with his wife and two kids. He was talking about being on the dining plan but he didn't know which one. He didn't think they had any ADRs. He wasn't sure about the FP thing. I wanted to just jump in there, but I said you or your wife needs to visit the Disboards. I gave him the website address and just kind of left it at that.

 

[Princess_Nikki]

Many of us "Disney Experts" would not tell a "non-planner" anything. What's the point? It would only annoy the newbie and frustrate us. Give the newbie this website address with the suggestion to read some of the threads... and see what transpires.

This is what I do!! ^^^

 

[phoebusII]

I tell them to stay on property, be sure to use FP, and make dining reservations well in advance. Despite that, a couple years ago, a week before my brother's family went, he still hadn't made a single ADR, then asked me for tips again. I think they then made one reservation. From what I heard, they had an excellent vacation.

 

[agavegirl1]

Most of my own family has no clue that I am an obsessive Disney planner. They do know that I am an obsessive planner period. I don't talk about Disney much. I absolutely stunned my niece on Facebook once when she was posting from WDW when I suggested a strategy for A&E because she hadn't even thought about FP+ prior to leaving for her trip. Her response.."how do you know all this!"

 

[RllngRckBrw]

I keep it pretty simple. I am not quiet about my obsession so anyone wanting to know anything about Disney generally comes to me for advice. I always start by prefacing that I am an obsessive nut but can generally offer a lot of knowledge. Then I ask if they want me to describe the basics or give them the full strategy. Usually a
Lunch meeting helps to keep people from feeling more like I am a friend than a travel agent.

 

[soniam]

For books, I like the Unofficial Guide. It does stress planning. However, sometimes hearing it from something as official as a book goes over better than hearing it from someone you know. If they still don't believe it or plan, then so be it.

 

[disney world dreamer]

i find that most people that are planning their first trip become very overwhelmed if you give them a couple websites and books to look at.

i would give SIMPLE explanations (as if you were talking to a child) of each park,how FP+ works, and how MDE works.
then give your suggestion for hotel, park tickets, dining plan, restaurants, and FP+ selections.


after you've done that and she has a feel for what disney world has to offer then suggest a few websites for her to look at.

i feel like doing it this way helps to ease a person into planning instead of having everything coming from all directions on the internet.

let her know she can come to you with questions.

most newbies will go with what someone who has been a number of times has suggested which is nice cuz then you're not having to explain every single option known to man and then having the person end up being overwhelmed with the amount of options.
plus it will give her a starting point so if she goes again she knows more about what she likes and does not like.

 

[wareagle57]

If their main concern is how to ride as many rides as possible then all I would do is point them to the EasyWDW cheat sheets and Messaboy's list of FP+ recommendations. I'd also point out which rides/shows are must do's and which ones can be done only if they have time. I'd also tell them to stay on property and try to visit the recommended parks in the evening and hit rope drop/stay til closing but take breaks in the the afternoon if possible.

 

[goofy4tink]

I suggest they get a guidebook, then talk to me! I recommend either the official Birnbaum's guide or the PassPorter. I like the UnOfficial Guide, but find it's too much for a first time visitor!
I am currently trying to help a friend with their T-day trip with two grandkids. They want to make dining plans, and another friend has given them recommendations based on a granddaughter thoughts...a young woman who just did an internship at WDW. Her recommendations are okay, but not terrific for a group with two kids under 10!!! So, while everyone tries to help newbies, sometimes there are going to be people that have completely different needs.
I do try to contain myself though. People can take just so much advice at one time.

 

[PEC]

I actually have giving advice but I actually find out from them what they "really" want to do and recommend from that viewpoint. IF they want to see Princesses, I will recommend on how to best see Princesses. If pirates, then how to best see pirates. I also recommend the most important FP+ to get so they are not getting a FP+ for a walkon Living with the Land, meanwhile standing in line for an hour to get on Test Track. I think it is important to remember when giving advice that no 2 familiese are exactly the same. Be almost more of a listener than a talker.

 

[cincystamper]

I actually have giving advice but I actually find out from them what they "really" want to do and recommend from that viewpoint. IF they want to see Princesses, I will recommend on how to best see Princesses. If pirates, then how to best see pirates. I also recommend the most important FP+ to get so they are not getting a FP+ for a walkon Living with the Land, meanwhile standing in line for an hour to get on Test Track. I think it is important to remember when giving advice that no 2 familiese are exactly the same. Be almost more of a listener than a talker.

This.

And if there are kids involved, I ask which character is it most important for each kid to meet? Then offer a suggestion for a character meal that might make that easier.

I cover the basics (made ADR's, do you know which parks you want to visit, etc) and then ASK them how much information they want. I'm pretty clear about it and tell them I could easily overwhelm them with info OR they can do some research on their own (I give them some sites to check) and then ask me questions OR they can tell me to shut up and walk away. LOL

 

[ArwenMarie]

I don't give any advice anymore. If someone asked me, I would recommend picking up a book though.

Either the Unofficial Guide or the EasyWDW guide. I actually really like the EasyWDW guide for first-timers. It's not as overwhelming and they actually give their opinions unlike the UG which is more of an encyclopedia. But both are good.

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

For newbies -- AND ONLY IF THEY ASK -- I suggest a guidebook, Disney's website now that they actually have a lot of info there, free Disney planning DVD, Disney food blog to the foodies, and mention the need to make ADRs far ahead IF they are really into sit-down dining. I then offer to answer any specific questions they have afterwards if they'd like.

I don't suggest DISboards to them -- unless they REALLY want to dig in past the basics. So much negativity and minutia -- don't think it's helpful to the newbie-non-planner.

 

[Mikie]

I don't suggest DISboards to them -- unless they REALLY want to dig in past the basics. So much negativity and minutia -- don't think it's helpful to the newbie-non-planner.

I was thinking this myself - I love DISboards, but I really don't think it's laid out for a newbie to navigate, and minutiae is right!! Much as most people here are very welcoming, I just don't think you can START here without getting overwhelmed.

 

[jazz0007]

I usually tell people I'd be glad to put together a bit of a calendar for them....if they want. If they don't respond I don't offer anything else. I do always direct them to these boards though.

 

[njmom76]

I just give the basics. DH's cousin is going in November. Luckily for them they booked through a travel agebt who made their ADRs. I explained how FP+ works and when through key attractions they shouldn't miss (with her DDs 8 & 5). I am the Disney planner in our family & DH is going with his x-country team in 3 weeks and has no clue about FP+ - our last family trip was old school FP still. I've been trying to explain it, but not sure if he's listening!

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[turkey1031]

I had someone recently ask me about Disney for their first trip next year. U started off listing a couple of websites that I thought would be helpful. I also included some info on things I wish I knew such as the dining plan or fast pass. The perks of staying onsite versus the money savings off site. There's so much planning going on with a Disney trip that I wanted to make sure she knew all of the different options. I did provide some of my opinions from past visits but also suggested she consider a ta to help her with the planning